Category Archives for Healthcare News

Even a single mindfulness meditation session can reduce anxiety

Mindfulness meditation programs have shown promise for the treatment of anxiety, one of the most common mental health disorders in the US. New research suggests people can begin to derive psychological and physiological benefits from the practice after a single introductory session. » Read more Source: Science Daily

Relaxation response may reduce blood pressure by altering expression of a set of genes

A new study has identified genes associated with the body’s response to relaxation techniques and sheds light on the molecular mechanisms by which certain interventions may work to lower blood pressure. » Read more Source: Science Daily

How bacteria communicate in groups to avoid antibiotics

In a new study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry (JBC), researchers from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have found that the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a pathogen that causes pneumonia, sepsis and other infections, communicates distress signals within a group of bacteria in response to certain antibiotics. […]

New blood pressure guidelines could put lives at risk

The recent recommendations from American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association are as follows: » Read more Source: Science Daily

Another Test to Help Clinicians Diagnose Asthma More Accurately

Although about 24 million Americans are diagnosed with asthma every year, there is no single test that can diagnose the disease. Common symptoms, such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and cough, are relatively nonspecific, and physicians may use multiple tests and observations to reach an accurate diagnosis. » Read more Source: ScienceNewsline

Better Treatment, Not More Spending, Saves Heart Attack Patients, Study Finds

A new long-term look at heart attack care and spending in America since the turn of the century shows more survival, more spending, and more variation between hospitals on both scores. » Read more Source: ScienceNewsline

Health benefits of swapping animal proteins for plant proteins

Substituting one to two servings of animal proteins with plant proteins every day could lead to a small reduction in the three main cholesterol markers for cardiovascular disease prevention, a new study suggests. » Read more Source: sciencedaily

Try exercise to improve memory and thinking, new guideline urges

For patients with mild cognitive impairment, don’t be surprised if your health care provider prescribes exercise rather than medication. A new guideline for medical practitioners says they should recommend twice-weekly exercise to people with mild cognitive impairment to improve memory and thinking. » Read more Source: sciencedaily

Could Sugar Be Responsible for the Obesity And Diabetes Epidemics?

The idea that sugar could be a fundamental cause of the global obesity and diabetes epidemics, with deleterious effects on the human body that go beyond just empty calories, should be considered seriously again, argues journalist and author Gary Taubes in The BMJ today. » Read more Source: ScienceNewsline

Low sodium-DASH diet combination dramatically lowers blood pressure in hypertensive adults

The CDC recommends influenza vaccination for everyone aged 6 months and older. However, vaccination coverage in the 2016-2017 season fell below the Healthy People 2020 targets of 70%. According to the CDC, only 59% of children aged 6 months to 17 years and 43.3% of adults aged 18 years or older were vaccinated during the […]